THE STATE OF HEALTHCARE IN IOWA

Diana Miller will provide a comprehensive overview of the current healthcare landscape in Iowa, setting the stage for why change is both urgent and necessary. Her session will examine key data points, policy shifts, and access challenges impacting employers and employees across the state. By highlighting the misaligned incentives, rising costs, and gaps in care that plague the current system, Diana will lay a critical foundation for understanding how innovative benefits strategies can respond to—and reshape—these realities. Attendees will leave with a clearer picture of the systemic issues at play and the opportunities for organizations to take a more intentional, value-driven approach to healthcare.

RETHINKING PHARMACY BENEFITS

Wes Hartig will unpack how rethinking pharmacy benefit structures can be a game-changer for organizations looking to align quality care with financial sustainability. He’ll explore the hidden costs embedded in traditional PBM models and explain how transparency and pass-through pricing create better outcomes for both employers and employees. Attendees will gain a clearer understanding of how smarter pharmacy strategies not only reduce wasteful spending but also improve medication access and adherence—driving healthier populations and better financial performance.

EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE CARE

Steven Borene will highlight how organizations can create a more efficient and effective care experience by prioritizing guided access to high-value providers and early intervention. He’ll showcase how Renovo’s approach—centered on care navigation and accountability—helps reduce unnecessary procedures, hospitalizations, and delays in care. The result: measurable improvements in employee health and significant reductions in medical spend. His insights will challenge attendees to think differently about how they direct and manage care within their benefits strategy.

DIRECT PRIMARY CARE IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY

Dr. Jon Van Der Veer will demonstrate how direct primary care can serve as a cornerstone for both cost control and quality improvement. By removing the barriers of traditional fee-for-service models, Exemplar Care is delivering better patient outcomes through more time with providers, proactive care, and seamless coordination. Attendees will see how integrating direct care models into a benefits plan not only improves employee satisfaction but also significantly reduces downstream costs like ER visits, hospitalizations, and unmanaged chronic conditions.

STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS CAN LOWER COSTS

Mike Pattengale will dive into how reference-based pricing and strategic provider partnerships can realign the economics of healthcare delivery. Through Fairos and OccuNet, he’ll showcase how employers can achieve fair pricing without sacrificing access or quality. His discussion will center on how smarter contracting and claim repricing strategies help organizations break free from inflated network rates, creating a sustainable path forward where financial integrity and care quality go hand in hand.

SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY OWNED HEALTH PLAN

April Moldenhauer and Scott Sabol will share firsthand how employers can successfully implement benefits strategies that prioritize quality care while maintaining fiscal responsibility. Their stories will highlight real-world outcomes from putting employees at the center of benefit design—whether that’s through direct care relationships, smarter pharmacy management, or more transparent healthcare partnerships. Attendees will gain practical insights into how organizations of any size can drive better health outcomes, boost employee engagement, and bend the cost curve—proving that aligning values with strategy is both possible and powerful.

SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY OWNED HEALTH PLAN

April Moldenhauer and Scott Sabol will share firsthand how employers can successfully implement benefits strategies that prioritize quality care while maintaining fiscal responsibility. Their stories will highlight real-world outcomes from putting employees at the center of benefit design—whether that’s through direct care relationships, smarter pharmacy management, or more transparent healthcare partnerships. Attendees will gain practical insights into how organizations of any size can drive better health outcomes, boost employee engagement, and bend the cost curve—proving that aligning values with strategy is both possible and powerful.